The Bra Burners did it...

The world has become a nasty place full of hostility anger and agression.. Friendly advice is taken as the harshest criticism and the hand regarded suspiciously as a potential slap in the face. People blame their fast paced lives, work stress, the rat race, and bills for their rotten interpersonal realations. We'd rather get "assertive" than say please, raise our voices rather than find the root of a problem. People are just MEAN.

It might have begun with the advent of militant feminism. I'm not saying that I'd give up my right to vote, and sometimes nothing looks better than a nice pair of slacks. There were times, I know, when women had to stand up and make a statement. I do get that, but there isn't a girl alive who looks better WITHOUT a bra. The big boobs should fight gravity, the little ones could use the false advertising, and medium sized... well I suppose you could make a case for the young ones, but really why take a chance that one day you'll be toting tennis balls in tube socks? I'm not a feminist and though I do believe in equal rights and responsibilities I still expect chivalry. Maybe its a throwback to my southern heritage and fairy tales of an often fictitous era, the myth of Scarlett O'Hara's old South, but I still expect men and even boys to be gentlemen. I still think he should open a door, still think he should pay for the FIRST date, still enjoy flowers, don't mind if he orders for me (as long as he tries to consider my preferences first...).

I think the traditional roles don't bind us so much as direct us in courtesy. There is a whole generation growing up raised in an atmosphere without gender roles. They're rude, they don't use real grammar, they don't respect authority and they have entitlement issues. The rate of violent crime for girls is escalating at an an alarming rate. Somehow the confinement of what it means to "act like a lady" is much more desirable. There was a time when parents of all socio- economic backgrounds expected and enforced the same level of discipline and respect. Now however the public schools allow lax behavior and only some of the strictest private schools have strict honor and dress codes. Many parents quit trying and the result is defiant, ill-mannered, discourteous and even aggressive children, teens and young adult quickly approaching young adulthood.

I say keep your bra on, wear a dress every now and then and guys... I know its expensive but buy the FIRST dinner. Girls know its expensive and if she doesn't offer to help pay after that or treat you occasionally get rid of her, but DO be a gentleman. Its funny that with all my very SOUTHERN expectations, MY gentleman came from Iowa.